Blank-feeding mechanism for skiving-machines



J. H. POPE.

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SKIVING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20. 19x5.

1,305,236, Patented May 27, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J H. POPE.

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SKIVING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, I9I5.

3 8HEETS-SHEET 2.

a" JK Ci Min 47 ms NORR/S mzysns cm. puamumo I wnsnilvcmn J'. H. POPE. BLANK FEEDING. MECHANISM. FOR SKIVING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20 1915. 1,305,236, Patented May 27, 1919.

3 sHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. POPE, 0F HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BLANK-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR smvme-nnonnvns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed August 20, 1915. Serial No. 46,467.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. Porn, 2.

Hamilton, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new same.

The present invention relates to feeding mechanism and more particularly to mechanism for separating and feeding box toe or counter blanks in a skiving machine.

In a well-known type of machine for skiving the, edges of box toes and counters, the blanks are fed one at a time from-the bottom of a pile or stack to the die and pressure rolls immediately behind which is located the fixed skiving knife. The blanks which are cut from'leather or other suitable material are often warped or bent so that pressure is usually applied to the pile to hold the blanks in proper flattened condition' for feeding. Where any considerable pressure is required or where, owing to the there is considerable frictional resistance offered to the separation or sliding of the lowermost blank from beneath the pile, difficulty is experienced in properly feeding the blanks. This difficulty is further increased'with that type of blank having a beveled edge, the feeding 'member ,tending to pass either under or over the lowermost blank instead of properly advancing it to the feed rolls.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide mechanism which shall positively and accurately feed blanks or similar articles one at a time from a pile or stack. Another object is to provide mechanism for feeding the lowermost blank or similar article from a pile held under pressure. Another object is to devise mechanism for feeding blanks or similar articles having a thin or beveled edge. Still another object is toprovide mechanism which is particularly adapted. and suitable for feeding the various kinds of box toe and counter the machine. machine with parts of the magazine and table removed;lFig. 4 is a vertical sectional -v1ew of-the blank feeding mechanism taken blanks in a skiving machine of the type above referred to. citizen of the United States, residing at With these objects in view, the present invention consists of the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and more particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate what is now considered to be the preferred embodlment of the present invention, Figure 1 1s a View in side elevation of a leather skiving machine embodying the present inventlon, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of Fig. 3 is a plan view of the on the line 4:-4: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed front view in elevation, showing the blank'feeding mechanism; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are vertical sectional views taken through the magazine or hopper for the blanks, illustra'ting the position of the separating blade and the feed plate in different steps of the feeding operation; Fig; 9. is a plan view, and Fig. 10 an edge view of a sheet of leather or leather board illustrating the a method of cutting the blanks from the stock. material of which the blanks are composed,

The machine illustrated in the drawings is similar in construction, arrangement, and

mode of operation of many of its parts to the machine disclosed in the patent to, Scott -No. 969,987, dated September 13, 1910, to

which-reference. may; be had for a more detailed description of such parts;

The machine is provided wlth a positively driven die roll 20, a pressure roll 22, and a skiving knife 2-1 the cutting edge of which extends close to the bite of the die and pressure rolls which act as feed rolls for carrying the blank against the skiving knife.

The blanks, which may be for counters 1 or box toes, are placed in a pile in the hopfollower 34: is'plac ed on top of the pile and I is forced down by the pressure rod 36, actuated by means of a rack and pinion from a shaft 38 driven by a friction clutch. The parts thus far described are substantially the same in their construction and-mode of operation as in the patented machine above referred to.

The devices for separating and feeding one blank at a time to the feed rolls comprise a separator blade 42, a gate lifter 44, and a feed plate 46. The separator blade is arranged to pass between the two lowermost blanks, after which it is raised slightly with the gate by means of the gate lifter to free the bottom blank and to permit it to be ad vanced by the feed plate from beneath the pile of blanks and under the gate to the feed rolls. These separating and feeding devices are all carried and actuated by the feed slide 47, which is arranged to reciprocate in guideways 48 formed in the bed plate 32 of the machine. The top of the feed slide 47 is channeled as at 49 to receive the carrier 50 for the gate lifter 44 and the feed plate 46. The adjusting screw 51 and clamping screws 52 provide a convenient means for adjusting the carrier and feed plate toward or from the feed rolls, so that the feed plate will present the blank to the feed rolls in proper timed relation.

The feed plate 46, which slides back and forth upon the bed plate. of the machine, is rigidly secured to the front end of the carrier 50 by means of the screws 53. On top of the carrier, and near its front or advancing end are formed a transverse slot 55 and the longitudinal slot 56. In the transverse slot 55, which is slightly below the longitudinal slot 56, is secured the yoke-shaped gate lifter 44, the forward or advancing ends of the arms 57 of which are beveled as at 58, and arranged to engage the anti-friction rolls 59 carried by the gate 30, the forward movement of the lifter first raising and then holding raised the. gate against the action of gravity and the springs 60 to permit the passage thereunder of the blank to the feed rolls.

The separator blade 42, which is arranged to slide upon the top of the feed plate 46, is rigidly secured to the front end of the separator slide 61 mounted to slide in the longitudinal groove 56 in the top of the carrier 50, being held therein by the cover 62 and screws 53 and 63, the former of which also serves to secure the feed to the feed slide 47.

The front or advancing edge of the separator blade 42 is preferably beveled as shown, so as to more readily enter between the two lowest blanks of the pile. The separator blade 42- is actuated by the feed slide through the following connections: Secured to the rear end of the separator slide 61 is the rack bar 64, (see Figs. 3 and 5), which plate 46 by means of the differential gear 68 is geared to the rack 66 fixed on the bed plate 32.

The rack 64 is provided with the guide 69 arranged to slide in the guideway 70 formed by the upwardly projecting flange 71 on the feed slide and a guide bar 72 secured to the bed plate 32. The differential gear 68 is mounted upon an outwardly projecting flange 74 of the feed slide 47 and has a long radius sector 76 in engagement with the rack bar 64, and a short radius sector 7 8 in engagement with the rack 66.

The above-described arrangement is such that when the feed slide begins its advancing or feeding stroke, the separator blade will also be advanced, but at a much faster rate owing to the differential action of the gear 68 which is then turning in anti-clockwise direction. The separator blade thus makes its complete forward or separating stroke during the first portion of the forward movement of the feed slide, and stops with the teeth or projections 90 on its front edge in the recesses 92 in the gate near its bottom edge. By this time the short radius sector 78 of the differential gear has moved out of mesh with the two teeth on the fixed rack 66, so that during the continued ad- .vancing or feeding movement of the feed slide the separator blade may remain statlonary, the gear 68 then turning freely 1n the opposite or clockwise direction.

In order to maintain the separator blade in its advanced position during the first por- .tion of the return stroke. of the feed slide and to insure the proper re-meshing of the short radius sector 78 with the fixed rack 66, a tension spring 80 has been provided, one end of which is secured to the cover 62 carried by the feed slide, while the other end is attached to the rack 64 carried by the separator slide. This spring, it will be noted, will hold the separator blade in its advanced position until the return movement of the feed slide has brought the short radius sector 78 into engagement with the fixed rack 66, after which the final portion of the rearward movement of the feed slide will impart a quick return movement to the separator blade.

The feed slide is reciprocated by mechanism substantially like that shown in the Scott patent above referred to, such mechanism comprising a link 82, rock arm 84 and shaft 86, and actuating cam of the gear 88.

In order to facilitate the feeding of the lowermost blank by the feed plate, the pressure exerted upon the blank is preferably relieved in whole 01- in part, this being accomplished by slightly raising the separator blade after it has been inserted between the lowermost blank and the one next above.

The blade is raised by the gate 30, the bottom of the recesses or slots 92 in the gate engaging the under s1de of the projections 90 on the forward edge of the blade and springing the blade upwardly when the gate is lifted by the beveled faces 58 on the arms 57 of the gate lifter 4:4. The timing of the parts is such that the gate and separator blade will be lifted before the feeding of the lowermost blank begins.

I The machine is provided with the usual guard or table 104 which covers the feeding mechanism and which acts as a gage to hold the bottom blanks against the gate 30, also preventing the lowermost blank from being drawn backwardly from beneaththe pilev by the separator blade during its rearward or return stroke. 7

While the feeding mechanism illustrated herein is well adapted for feeding all types of fiat blanks, it is particularly well adapted for feeding blanks having a beveled edge such as are illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. These blanks 110 are cut from. a sheet of material whose width is substantially the length of the counter to be made, the individual blanks being cut by a knife which swings in an arc to give a curvature approximately the curvature of one side of the finished blank. By mounting the knife so that it is inclined laterally, a beveled edge is imparted to the blank,.thus saving the width of the bevel or scarf in stock for each blank cut. I

This feather or beveled edge renders the feeding of the blanks quite difficult, especially if the blanks are under considerable pressure or the bottom blank sticks to the blank above, With the feeding mechanism described above, however, the beveled teeth 90 of the separator bladereadily enter between the beveled edges of adjacent blanks and separates the bottom blank from the pile. Furthermore, when the blade is 'inposition between the pile and the bottom blank, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the bottom blank is inclosed in a metallic tube, or .guideway, so that there is little, resistance to its movement to. the feed rolls; and at the same time ,the feed plate is prevented from sliding up the beveled edge of the blank. 7

The operation of the machineis as follows:

A pile of "blanks is placed. upon the bedplate 32, between sidegages are adjustedto 'holdthe blanks in proper relation to the cavity of the die roll, and then the follower 34c and pressure rod 36 are brought down to hold the pile Tin afiat position under pressure The feed rolls are set in operation and thefeeding mechanism operates in timed relation to the feed rolls. Therelative positions of the separator blade, gate lifter and feed .plate at the beginning of the feed stroke is shown in Fig. 3. In the first part of the feedin stroke of the feed Slide 47, the differentiail gear 68, aided by the spring 80 pushes the vor-endof a horizontal pile of I the side gages'28aand against thefront plate26 and gate 30.x vThe the gate 30, the rack bar 65% engages a stop 114 on the slide bar 72 and holds the separator slide from further movement. The arms 57 of the lifter yoke 44: then pass under the friction rollers 59 to lift the gate and separator blade with the pile of blanks on the blade. A continued movement of the feed slide brings the feed plate into contact with the bottomblank to advance it'under the gate tothe feed roll-s, as shown in- Fig. 8. Upon the return stroke of the feed slide, the separator blade is held stationary by the spring 80 until the short radius sector 78' is brought into engagement with the rack 66, when the separator slide will be given a quick return stroke, the parts coming to rest in the position shown in'Fig. '3.

While the apparatus illustrated herein is vance are used in the specification and.

claims to indicate the direction of feed of the blanks. W'Vliere reference is made to a pile orstack this is to be understood as referring as well to horizontal piles or stacks as to vertical, and whenever the bottom' blank orl'bottom of the pile is specified, this is to be taken as meanin also the end blank stack.

"iHavingthus illustratedand described the i 1 Blank feeding mechanism for? skiving support, mechanism for feeding the bottom blankof thep le to the skiving'devices', and '7 devices for, holding the pile 'of lbl'anks up be the bottom blank while it is being fed. 1

preferredffor n of the invention, What is j claimed as new is machines eoinprisinga fixed support, a mag 1 .az nei forholding blanks in a pile uponjthe 2; Blank feeding mechanism for' 'skiving machinesf'c'omprising a support for blanks, a magazine for holding blanks in stacked formation on the support, a separatormov able through the stack nto position above the bottom blank to confine [the 1 bottom" blank between the "separator and the sup-1 port, and a feeding device movable between the support and the separator to advance the blank to the skivingdevices.

3.-Blank feeding mechanism for 'skiving machines comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, means for positively pressing the pile against the support, a separator plate arranged to separate the bottom blank from the rest of the pile and to relieve the pressure on the bottom blank, and mechanism for feeding the bottom blank to the skiving devices.

4. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile under pressure, a sepa; rator to enter between the two bottom blanks, means to raise the separator and the pile of blanks to relieve the pressure 011 the bottom blank, and a feeding device for feeding the bottom blank to the skiving devices.

5. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, means for pressing the blanks against the support, a separator having a beveled edge to enter between the two bottom blanks to free the bottom blank upon the support, and a feeding device for ad vancing the bottom blank out from under the separator to the skiving devices.

6. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of blanks in a pile, a gate in the front of the magazine, a separator for entering between the bottom blank and the pile, means for feeding the bottom blank, and devices for lifting the gate to permit feeding.

7. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines, comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, a feed slide having a reciprocatory movement, 'a separator mounted on the feed slide, and means for operating the feed slide and separator arranged to accelerate the movement of the separator at the beginning of the feeding stroke of the feed slide to separate the bottom blank from the pile and then to cause the feed slide to feed the separated blank.

8. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines, comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, a reciprocatory feed slide, a separator mounted on the slide, means to actuate the slide, and means to accelerate the separator relatively to the feed slide on the forward and return strokes of the slide.

9. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines, comprising meansfor supporting the blanks in a pile, a separator to enter between the bottom blank and the pile, means to raise the separator and pile to free the bottom blank, and a feeding device to feed the separated blank from under the pile.

10. Feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of blanks in a pile, a gate in the front of the magazine, means for feeding the blanks, and means for raising the gate to permit a blank to pass.

11. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines, comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, a gate in front of the pile, a separator for entering between the two bottom blanks and engaging the gate, a feed member for advancing the bottom blank, and means operated in timed relation to the feed movement to raise the se arator and gate.

12. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for supporting blanks in a pile, a gate at the bottom .of the magazine, a feed slide carrying a separator, a gate lifter, and a feeding member, and means for actuating the feed slide to cause the separator to separate the bottom blank from the pile, the gate lifter to raise the gate and the feeding member to advance the bottom blank under the gate.

13. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, a rack on the frame, a rack on the separator, difierential gearing between the racks, and means for moving the slide.

14. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, a rack on the frame, a rack on the separator, differential gearing between the racks arranged to be thrown into and out of engagement with one of said racks, a spring connection between the separator and the slide, and means for moving the slide.

15. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, gearing mounted between the frame and separator, and a spring connecting the slide with the separator.

16. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, accelerating devices on the slide mounted between the frame and separator, a stop on the frame, and a spring connecting the separator with the slide.

17 Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for holding blanks, a gate in front of the magazine, a feeding member, and means connected with said member and located in advance thereof to raise the gate to permit the feed member to feed blanks under the gate.

. 18. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, ,a feed slide on the frame, a feed member connected to the slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, means for actuating the slide to operate the feed member and separator, an accelerator to rapidly advance the separator to the end of its forward path, and a stop to hold the separator while the feed member completes its feeding movement.

19. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for supporting the blanks in a pile, a vertically movable gate at the bottom of the magazine, a feed slide and means for actuating the same, and devices connected with the feed slide for raising the gate to permit the feeding of a blank to the skiving mechanism.

20. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a magazine for supporting the blanks in a pile, a vertically movable gate at the bottom of the magazine, a feed slide, and a yoke-shaped gate lifter carried by the feed slide having its arms of such alength and beveled at their free ends to raise the gate and hold it raised for the feeding of a blank.

' 21. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, and means controlled by the feed slide for imparting a rapid advancing movement to the separator during the first portion of the advancing stroke of the feed slide and holding the separator stationary during the latter portion of the advancing stroke of the feed slide.

22. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a machine frame, a feed slide, a separator movably mounted on the slide, a stop on the frame, a spring normally tending to advance the separator, and accelerating devices for controlling the advancing movement of the separator from the feed slide.

23. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, a reciprocatory feed slide, a separator mounted on the slide and actuated thereby, and means for actuating the slide.

24. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a support for blanks, a mechanism for holding blanks in stacked formation upon the sup prt, a separator movable through the stac into a position above the bottom blank to confine the bot tom blank between the separator and the support, and a feed slide arranged to move between the separator and the support to push the blank out to theskiving devices.

25. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising a fixed support for supporting the blanks in a pile, a separator having a beveled edge to enter between the two bottom blanks to free the bottom blank upon the support, a reciprocatory feed slide, and means for actuating the separator and slide.

26. Blank feeding mechanism for skiving machines comprising means for supporting the blanks in a pile, a separator to enter between adjacent blanks in the pile, a reciprocatory feed slide to feed a blank between the separator and support, and means for actuating the separator and the slide with their idle strokes in the same direction and rlz 'n (We JOSEPH 1-1. POPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

